Resilient car wheel



D. P. STEWARD Aug. 12, 1941.

RESILIENT CAR WHEEL Filed July 22, 1958 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 OFFICE RESILIENT CAR WHEEL Douglas P. Steward, Johnstown, Pa.

Application July 22, 1938,'Serlal No. 220,798

7 Claims. 295-11) This invention relates to car wheels and particularly to an improved method of' providing resilient means designed to' reduce noise and shocks normally transmitted through the wheel to axle and truck, thereby improving the riding qualities of-thevehicle with which resilient car wheels are employed.

Heretofore, resilient wheels of theprior art have embodied resilient members held between metallic members in any convenient manner. However, suchconstructions necessitated extremely close finishing tolerances of both the resilient as well as metallic members in order that they be assembled in a manner so as to prevent frictional rubbing or wearing in service. Such tolerances necessitated abnormal manufacturing costs. If such close tolerences were not observed, the assembly became loose after a period of service after which the eifects of such a construction'were lost.

Such a wheel assembly was of necessity held together by compression, which compression varied due to climatic and temperature changes and loosening of the parts as wear of said parts increased. v

It is to be further noted "in resilient wheels as heretofore used that the metallic elements conveyed heat as generated from braking, etc.,

heat as conveyed to said resilient members as by braking, etc.

Another object is to provide a resilient wheel structure wherein the compressive forces as applied to each of the resilient members contained therein, is distributed uniformly over the entire areas of said resilient members which areas are in abutting contact with metallic members.

Another object is to provide a resilient wheel structure wherein heat-resistant means .is interposed between normally abutting metallic and resilient members so as to minimize heat transference which would'lead to rapid deterioration of the resilient members.

These and otherobjects will be apparent to those skilled in the art when considered in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a composite front elevation partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same; T Fig. 3 is a third sectional view of the same: Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one feature of the present invention;

directly to the resilient members with the result that early and rapid deterioration of said resilient members took place resulting in T the collapse of the wheel assembly.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a resilient wheel assembly which is so constructed and arranged that the elastic (or resilient) load carrying members will not wearpredetermined compression needs no further compression adjustment while in service due to climatic and temperature changes and allowance for wearing of the assembled parts of said wheel.

Another object is to'produce a resilient wheel assembly wherein the elastic or'resilient members are so arranged as to provide air spaces therebetween, thereby minimizing deterioration of said resilient members by rapid dissipation of Fig. 7 is a 1-1 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 5 is a second perspective view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewof the same;

.' Fig. 8 is apartial sectionalongv plane of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along a similar plane 1-1 illustrating a modification of the present invention;

F g. 10 is an enlarged view of the same illustrating the assembly; -Fig. 11 is a perspective view modified features of the same;

I Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modification of one feature of the present invention.

Referring to the above drawings, the hub l is designed and bored to be pressed onto an axle and to turn therewith. The outer surface, of hub l is turned down at its inner end to provide the shoulder it against which the annular inner hub flange. 2 is subsequently fastened by the welds 30 as indicated. Alternatively the hub I and inner of one of the hub flange 2 can be made as one integral piece by forging or casting methods if desired.

Near theouter end of huh I is provided. a second shoulder. l5, against which the annular outer hub flange 4 bears when the wheel is assembled. The outer end of hub l, is turnedand the outer flange l is centrally bored in such a manner that a reasonably neat fit will be ob tained at their junction 3| after hub I has been pressed on the axle and the resulting radial ex-,

sectional view taken along plane pansion of the hub I has taken place. The outer surface of the hub I is provided with thread I4 as indicated, to fit the hub nut 1 which is employed to force the outer hub flange 4 against shoulder I5.

Between the inner flange 2 and the outer flange 4 is overlappingly disposed a tire 3 with tire flange 31 integral therewith.

On each side of the tire flange 31 and between it and the inner hub flange 2 and outer hub flange 4 are located a plurality of substantially circular resilient members 8, coaxially and oppositely disposed. These resilient members 8 are equally spaced on the circumference of a circle whose center coincides with the center of the hub bore. These resilient members 8 are suitably bonded as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, to steel outer plates 9 which abut the inner and outer hub flanges 2 and 4 respectively, and to steel inner plates ID or IOA which abut the tire flange 31.

By virtue of this bond which positively prevents movement of the resilient members 8 with reference to abutting metallic surfaces, any possibility of mechanical wear of the resilient members 8 is eliminated, which wear and resulting loss of a portion of the resilient members 8 would in time cause the wheel assembly to become loose. The bonding feature, in addition,

eliminates the necessity for resorting to close machining tolerances in grooves, recesses or on surfaces in order to hold the resilient load carrying members in place under predetermined lateral pressure.

The overall-thickness of the resilient members 8, outer plates 9 and inner plates I or IIIA, can easily be held to close tolerances which will be in correct relation to the spacing of inner flange 2 and outer flange 4 to maintain a tight assembly under all loaded conditions.

It will be noted in sectional views Figs. 7 and 9 that two designs of steel inner plate are shown. Inner plate I8 of Fig. '1 is provided with a centrally located outwardly projecting integral bottomless tube which enters with a neat fit hole II of tire web 31. Inner plate IIIA of Fig. 9 is provided with a centrally located hole 29 into which is introduced with a neat. fit the outwardly projecting end of tube 5A which is a tight flt in hole II of tire flange 31. In order to prevent lateral and torsional movement of tube 5A, it is tack welded by welds I1 through holes 32 to inside of hole II in tire flange 31. The purpose of these constructions is to prevent radial or torsional movement of plates I 0 or I DA with reference to tire flange'3'l which they abut. It will be further noted that both Figs. .7 and 9 indicate that outer plate 9 is provided with a centrally located hole='28 whichis a neat fit overthe shank of shoulder bolt 6. Here radial. or torsional movement of the outer plates 9 with reference to inner flange 2 or outer flange 4 which they abut, is prevented by contact against shanks of shoulder bolt 8. i v

The inside diameter of the outwardly projecting tubes 5 of plate I8 or the inside diameter of tube 5A is sufliciently large to provide ample clearance so that contact will not bemade with .the center portion .of the shoulder bolt 6 when maximum wheel deflection .takes place in any radial direction.

. provide uniform pressure on the entire areas of the resilient members 8 which are bonded to steel inner and outer plates 9 and III or IIIA,

which latter in turn are in abutting contact with inner flange 2, outer flange 4 and tire flange 31. This object is accomplished by means of the shoulder bolts 6, each of which is coaxially located at the center of each pair of oppositely disposed resilient members 8 as shown. It will be seen that when the shoulder bolt nuts 33 are turned down tightly against the lock washers 34, inner flange 2 and outer plate 9 will be tightly forced against inner shoulder 35 of shoulder bolt 6, and at outer end of shoulder bolt 6, outer flange 4 and outer plate 9 will likewise be forced against outer shoulder 36 of shoulder bolt 6. The properly predetermined distance between shoulders 35 and 36 will prevent excessive pressure being applied against the resilient members 8, but atthe same time will allow a sufilcient amount of pressure to be applied to insure the wheel being maintained in tight assembly without necessity of frequent field adjustments due to climatic and temperature changes.

The fact that the pressure is centrally applied, as described, to the resilient members insures uniform pressure over the entire area of the resilient members 8 in abutting contact with metallic members. It is obvious that the distance between hub shoulder I5 and inner face of inner flange 2 must be equal to the shoulder to shoulder distance of shoulder bolt 6 less the sum of the thicknesses of the two outer plates 9 to prevent any distortion in either inner flange 2 or outer flange 4, or in both. In other words, inner flange 2 and outer flange 4 must be equidistant from each other at all points over their surfaces.

It will be noted by referring to Figs. '1 and 9 that shoulder bolts 6 serve the double purpose of holding the wheel assembly together as well as providing the support for the outer plates 8 against radial movement as the shanks of the shoulder bolts pass through hole 28 inouter plate 9 with a neat flt.

In order to prevent torsional movement between hub I and'outer flange 4, the outer surface of hub I is provided with a plurality of key recesses I9 in each of which is welded a key I3 which projects outwardly beyond the shoulder I5 of the hub I. In Fig. 1 I have indicated these keys located diametrically opposite each other. The projection of the key I3 beyond shoulder I5 is less than the thickness of the outer flange 4 so that it will not be contacted by under face of hub nut 1 when said nut forces the outer flange 4 against the hub shoulder I5. In outer flange 4 are provided two diametrically opposite keyways 20 so located and sized as to provide a neat fit over keys I3.

As is known to those familiar with the art, when car wheels are braked" by applying shoe brakes or hands directly to the periphery of the wheel, heat is generated by the friction between brake and wheel and will vary in amount depending upon the severity of the'brake application. As resilient members will deteriorate when subjected to excessive heat, means should be provided to eliminate possibility of failure from this cause. In the design illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 braking on the periphery of the tire 3 would create heat which would travel from the periphery through the flange 31 thence through the inner plates III or IDA to the resilient member 8. As

shown in Fig. 1 the resilient members 8 are substantially circular and are spaced equidistant from each other with an air space between and around each. There is, therefore, an appreciable portion of the tire flange 31 which is exposed" to the air for dissipation of the gen heat. To further circulation of the heated air, a

plurality of ventilating holes l8 located as shown 31 and the inner plates 3A which will effectively minimize theheat transfer mentioned. The

smallamount'of heat which could be transmitted torinnerplate |A through the contact with end of tube. A is inconsequential. These heat resisting members 38 should be substantially circular and .of' the same size as the resilient members 8 so as not to reduce the amount'of surface of the tire flange 31 exposed for air cooling. 1

As a further modification in connection with the heat resisting members 38; it may be advantageousto bond same directly to the resilient member 8, thereby eliminating the necessity of employing the metallic inner plates IDA. A further modification would be to substitute a heat resisting member 38A for metallic outer plate 3 as indicated in Fi 12. A higher coeflicient of friction is obtainable between the non-metallic heat resisting members 38A and the metallic flanges 2, 31 and 4 than would be obtained between metallic plates 9 and IA and flanges 2, 31 and 4. This higher coefficient of friction aids in resisting radial and torsional movements of the resilient members 8 with reference to the flanges 2, 31 and 4. In either case, the heat resisting members 38A would have the same inside and outside diameters as the inner plate IA and outerplate 9.

In order to accommodate the return of the electric current employed in trolley car operation from the truck to rail, flexible electric connections 23 are provided. At one end of the connection 23 is located a terminal 22 which is detachably secured to the inner flange 2 between a pair of resilient members 8 as shown in Figs. land 8. At the other end of connection 23 is located terminal 2| which is drivenlinto hole 25 in tire flange 31. So that ample clearance may be provided under rotatingload conditions, hole 26 is provided in inner flange 2 so that terminal 2| may move therein without touching inner flange 2 under conditions of maximum deflection. In order to remove terminal 2| from tire flange 31, a hole 24 is provided in outer flange 4 opposite terminal 2| so that a drift could be inserted in hole 24 contacting terminal 2| and thereby provide means for backing terminal 2| out of hole 25 in tire flange 31. So that the connection 23 will not move unduly from centrifugal force when wheel is rapidly rotated, a plurality of flat U- shaped retainers 21of circular cross-section are welded to the face of the outer flange as shown. It is customary in the "industry to provide two flexible connections, each of proper electrical capacity, to each wheel so that if one fails the other will carry the load without overheating and this practice has been indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the above description and drawings it is apparent that" many modificationsand changes may be made of the present invention without essentially departing from the nature and scope thereof and all such modifications and changes are contemplated as may fall within the scope of the following claims,

xWhatIclaimis:

1. A resilient wheel assembly comprised of a hub provided with parallel hub flanges, a tire provided with a flange extendinginwardly between said hub flanges, and means to sustain resiliently said tire with said flange in position between said hub flanges, said means comprising a plurality of clrcumferentially spaced pairs of resilient members each. consisting of-a resilient core integrally united on opposite sides to metal plates,'and each pair of said members being 10- cated in alignment on opposite sides ofsaid tire flange between the tire flange and said hub flanges with the metal plates abutting against the said flanges, an annular projection on the surface of 'each plate contacting said tire flange, holes in the said tire flange adapted to receive said plate projections and bolt and nut means passing through each pair of'resilient members and through the tire and hub flanges adjacent thereto to compressively secure the said members and flanges together, said bolt being provided with means to secure one facing plate of the resilient member to the hub flange to prevent relative movement therebetween.

2. A resilient wheel comprised of a hub provided with two parallel spaced annular hub flanges extending outwardly therefrom and a tire or rim member having an inner annular flange extending inwardly between said hub flanges, and

' means to resiliently sustain said tire member being provided with a face plate secured thereon,

coaxially on said hub member, said means comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said tire flange in the space between the tire flange and said hub flanges, each resilient member having inner and outer metal face plates secured thereto, means to secure the outer face plate of each resilient member separately to, the hub flanges, means to secure the inner face plate of each resilient member separately to the said tire flange, and respective individual means to place each pair of resilient members separately under the same determined degree of compression, said resilient members each comprising a flattened core of resilient material, each flattened face of said core the said core and face plates being provided with aligned openings therethrough, the opening through the said core being at leastas large as either face plate opening and the opening in one faceplate being materially larger than the opening in the other said face plate.

3. A resilient wheel comprised of a hub provided with two parallel spaced annular hub flanges extending outwardly therefrom and a tire or rim member having an inner annular flange extending inwardly between said hub flanges, and means to resiliently sustain said tire member coaxially on said hub member, said means comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said tire flange in the space between the tire flange-and said hub flanges, each resilient member having inner and outer metal face plates secured thereto, means to secure the outer face plate of each resilient member separately to the hub flanges, means to secure the inner face plate of each resilient member separately to the said tire flange, and respective individual means to place each pair of resilient members separately under the same ings in each pair of said resilient members, the opening in the tire flange being materially larger than the shank of said bolt and the opening in the said resilient members beirng conically tapered from the outer to the inner sides to a size approximating the size of said tire flange open ing, the shank of said bolt being provided with annular shoulders adjacent each said threaded end extending outwardly a suflicient distance to engage the inner surface of said hub flanges with the outer face plate of the resilient member gripped therebetween upon the threading of a nut on the said bolt end, the spacing between said shoulders being adapted to provide a known and determined degree of compression on said pair of resilient members;

4. A resilient wheel comprised of a hub provided with two parallel spaced annular hub flanges extending outwardly therefrom and a tire or rim member having an inner annular flange extending inwardly between said hub flanges, and means to resiliently sustain said tire member coaxially on said hub member, said means comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said tire flange in the space between the tire flange and said hub flanges, each resilient member having inner and outer metal face plates secured thereto, means to secure the outer face plate of each resilient member separately to the hub flanges, means to secure the inner face plate of each resilient member separately to the said tire flange, and respective individual means to place each pair of resilient members separately under the same determined degree of compression, said hub flanges being perforated to provide a plurality of ventilating holes intermediate said pairs of resilient members to provide substantially free circulation of air around said pairs of resilient members.

5. A resilient wheel comprised of a hub provided with two parallel spaced annular hub flanges extending outwardly therefrom and a tire or rim member having an inner annular flange extending inwardly between said hub flanges, and means to resiliently sustain said tire member coaxially on said hub member, said means comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said tire flange in the space between the tire flange and said hub flanges, each resilient member having inner and outermetal face plates secured thereto, means to secure the outerface plate of each resilient memthe space'between the tire flange and said hub flanges, each resilient member having inner and outer metal face plates secured thereto, means to secure the outer face plate of each resilient member separately to the hub flanges, means to secure the inner face plate of each resilient member separately to thersaid tire flange, and respective individual means to place each pair of resilient members separately under the same determined degree of compression, each of said face plates being provided with a coaxial opening therethrough, the opening in one faceplate of each member being larger than that in the other,

at least one face plate of each member having an adjacent layer of thermal insulation, each inner plate being mechanically interlocked with the tire flange of the wheel and each outer plate being mechanically interlocked with a hub flange of the wheel.

7. A resilient wheel comprised of a hub provided with two parallel spaced annular hub flanges extending outwardly therefrom and a tire or rim member having an inner annular flange ber separately to the hub flanges, means to se- 7 cure the inner face plate of each resilient member separately to the said tire flange and re- 4 spective individual means to place each pair of resilient members separately under the same determined degree of compression, each of said resilient members comprising a flattened core of resilient material having face plates secured onto opposite flattened surfaces, the said core and face plates being provided with coaxial openings therethrough, the opening on one face plate being materially larger than the opening in the other said face plate and the opening in the said core being conically tapered therebetween.

6. A resilient wheel comprised of a hub provided with two parallel spaced annular hub flanges extending outwardly therefrom and a tire or rim member having an inner annular flange extending inwardly between said hub flanges, and means to resiliently sustain said tire member coaxially on said hub member, said means comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said tire flange in 7 extending inwardly between said hub flanges, and means to resiliently sustain said tire member coaxially on said hub member, said means comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said tire flange in the space between the tire flange and said hub flanges, each resilient member having inner and outer metal face plates secured thereto, means to secure the outer face plate of each resilient member separately to the hub flanges, means to secure the inner face plate of each resilient member separately to the said tire flange and respective individual means to place each pair of resilient members separately under the same determined degree of compression, said resilient members each comprising a flattened core of resilient material, inner and outer face plates secured onto opposite flattened surfaces of said core material, the said core and face plates being provided with aligned opennigs therethrough, the opening through the inner face plate being materially larger than the opening through the outer plate and the opening through the said core material being annularly tapered and larger at the outer end than the face plate opening adjacent thereto, and wherein said last two mentioned means comprise aligned openings through the hub flanges and said tire flange, one set of openings for each pair of said resilient members, the openings on the hub flanges being substantially identical to the outer plate openings and the opening in the said tire flange approximating the size of the inner plate openings, means to secure the inner face plates of each of said resilient members to the said tire flange with the openings therein in alignment with theopening in the tire flange and bolt and nut means passing through each said aligned openings in said flanges and through the openings in each said pair of resilient members, the said bolt being provided with opposite threaded ends and each end being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the threaded section adapted to engage the inner surface of the outer face plate of each said resilient member of said pair of resilient members to frictionally engage the said plate to the inner surface of said hub flanges upon the threading of a nut on the threaded bolt end, the spacing between said shoulders being adapted to place the said resilient core under a determined degree of compression.

DOUGLAS P. STEWARD. 

